Decidedly Different Dining Rooms
Turn every meal into an occasion with a dining room that makes guests sit up and take notice
Joanna Tovia
24 May 2015
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
Why have a ho-hum place to share meals with friends and family when you could have a dramatic dining room that stands out from the crowd? Whether you have amazing architecture on your side or just the courage to be creative, every dining area has the potential to become something remarkable. These ideas are sure to inspire you to add flair and originality to your space … just don’t be surprised if you find yourself playing host every chance you get.
When you have as much natural light as this dining room, you’d be mad not to take advantage of it. White walls and a white floor allow the light to bounce around with abandon, but they also present the perfect backdrop for bright splashes of colour. Multi-coloured dining chairs take this area to the next level, and a glass tabletop lets the chairs do the talking.
What do you think? Is that toddler playing peek-a-boo real or not? An unexpected element like this little pretend person can make a dining room truly unique.
Panton chairs: Space Furniture
What do you think? Is that toddler playing peek-a-boo real or not? An unexpected element like this little pretend person can make a dining room truly unique.
Panton chairs: Space Furniture
There’s nothing ordinary about this eating area and it has been designed to be just as effective at night as it is during the day. A retractable awning gives you complete control over the sun shining through the glass ceiling, and underwater lighting means the pool is still a feature when the sun does down. And using office chairs as dining chairs? When they’re as good looking as these Eames Aluminium Group Management chairs, why not?
Take a look at the view from the pool
Take a look at the view from the pool
Talk about grand proportions. I can’t decide what I love more – the painted brick wall left intentionally bare, the oversized artwork, or the floor-to-ceiling curtains that fall from a height. Few of us have the luxury of being able to dedicate a room this size just to dining but there’s nothing to stop us dreaming about it.
Wishbone Black Wood Y chair
Wishbone Black Wood Y chair
Less can be more in some dining rooms, particularly in a sleek, contemporary abode such as this one in Brisbane. Texture comes into its own here, with the natural light playing off the various lines and subtle colour gradations beautifully. A single artwork, finely crafted credenza and shapely chairs are all it takes for this dining room to pack a punch.
This Melbourne dining room is contemporary in a whole different way, but again, simplicity is the secret ingredient. Low-back chairs allow the eye to rest on the angled windows and view beyond, rather than the table setting itself.
Why have one table when you can have more, especially if you want to feed a crowd. Piecing two tables together can also be a more cost-effective option than having a custom table designed for your space. In this case, the tables are 3 metres long and interior designers Alida And Miller have painted the bench seats different colours to add eclectic appeal in line with the rest of the house. A Lady Peacock chair presides at either end just for the fun of it.
Tables and bench seats: Eureka Street Furniture
Tables and bench seats: Eureka Street Furniture
If you’re more into intimate gatherings between close friends, cosy can be the way to go. All this moody, French-inspired dining room needs to make such a gathering a success is candlelight, scrumptious food, and plenty of red wine.
Just as cosy, but a lot more versatile, is this tucked away dining room that could easily double as a library/home office. Perfect for those who tend to eat at the kitchen bench (or off their lap in front of the telly), and only want to use the dining room for extra special occasions. Heavy curtains and leather armchairs help create an atmosphere that invites you to sit down, relax a while, and indulge in some seriously good conversation.
An earthy backdrop comes into focus in a more dramatic way if the foreground contrasts against it, and what better way to do this than with mid-century modern Saarinen Tulip chairs in red and white. Shake things up in your own dining space and you might be surprised at the magic you can create at meal time.
If your furnishings are striking enough, it doesn’t matter what kind of room you put them in – furniture can be completely transformative. Couple a standout table and fashionable chairs with an eye-catching light fitting and you’re most of the way there.
Suspension XXL pendant: BOYAC
Suspension XXL pendant: BOYAC
A walkway over a glass roof is one way to make an entrance. How could you make the entrance to your own dining room more dramatic? Even tealights in lanterns either side of the doorway can make an impact, and regal chairs upholstered in leather will make every guest feel like a VIP.
See more of this house
See more of this house
Paint the walls in your dining room black and see what happens. You’ve just set the stage for a theatrical dining experience. This room continues the theme with black and white furniture and accessories … and some zebra stripes for an exotic flourish doesn’t hurt either.
Chairs: Designmaster
Chairs: Designmaster
When your view from the dining area is as arresting as this one, it pays not to mess with it with fussy furniture or pendant lights. But you will need to get into the habit of hosting large gatherings if you don’t want to feel dwarfed by the space … and maybe hire a cook while you’re at it.
YOUR SAY
Which dining room would you love to call your own? Tell us your favourites in the Comments.
MORE
Designer Dining Chairs You Need to Know About
Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to ‘The Dining Table’
Dining Tables Squeezed Into All Manner of Small Spaces
YOUR SAY
Which dining room would you love to call your own? Tell us your favourites in the Comments.
MORE
Designer Dining Chairs You Need to Know About
Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to ‘The Dining Table’
Dining Tables Squeezed Into All Manner of Small Spaces
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Love the idea of the library dining room: big table at which to read or study and a room that is multifunctional and atmospheric. Great lamp, too!
Most of these dining rooms get a big "thumbs down" from me. Only one hadsa soft rug on which to rest your feet. Most are surrounded by hard echoing surfaces. Not conducive to relaxed conversation and banter. And don't get me started on the lack of comfort that backless benches provide. Most of these rooms lack an essential of group dining - chairs at the head of the table to anchor the group.
I agree. These look very cool! But whether they are entirely practical is another question.